Stacking box handle



Jan. 10, 1950 D. BEST 2,494,503

STACKING BOX HANDLE Filed Jan. 4, 1947' LESTER D. BEST hwy Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED 1 [STATES PATENT OFFICE fl I l 2,494,503

: ISTACKING BOX HANDLE Q Lester D. Best, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application January 4, 1947, Serial No. 720,294

1 Claim. (01. 220-97) The present invention is directed and related to handles applicable to the ends of boxes or baskets, which may be readily attached to prefabricated, boxes or baskets and used to carry them and their contents; or moved into inner positions in which said boxes or baskets may be stacked oneupon the other, with an upper box held above the'contents of the lower one; or in another outer position, will be out of the way so that the baskets or boxes having somewhat downwardly inclined sides and ends may be nested to occupy less space when not filled with articles which they are to carry.

It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide a handle for the carrying, stacking and permitting the nesting of boxes or containers, which handle is simple and economical to produce, very easily applied and upon its application and attachment, is particularly satisfactory for attaining the results and functions stated.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 shows the handle in longitudinal vertical section applied to containers or boxes and in the position in which used for stacking.

Fig. 2 is a similar transverse vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a plurality of the boxes equipped with my invention in nested condition.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged end elevation of a box with the stacking handle attached, with the handle in its outer position, as in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view thereof.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the handle and the bar to which attached and which forms a part of the box to which the handle is secured.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section on the plane of line 'I| of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section on the plane of line 8--8 of Fig. '1, said sections looking in the directions indicated by the arrows.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the difierent figures of the drawing.

The boxes or containers l, in preferred structure have a horizontal bottom and upwardly and outwardly inclined generally vertical sides and ends, being open at their upper sides for the reception of articles to be carried therein. Around their upper edge portions flat bars 2 are secured to the ends of the boxes and similar bars 3 secured to the sides. Such bars are for reinforcement and protection of the upper edge portions of the sides and ends of the boxes and are well known structures of boxes or containers used to a considerable extent in carrying bread from a bakery to places of retail sale. It is apparent that such containers are partially insertable at their lower ends into the upper ends of containers below them, so that they will nest together and occupy less space when empty, as shown in Fig. 3.

In my invention, handles, each made from a length of wire, are attached to and underneath the end portions of the end bars 2. Each of said handles is of a generally bail-like formation, the wire rod from which made being shaped to form an intermediate elongated section 4, which at each end is laterally offset and formed into a shallow U-shape portion 5, from the end of the outer side of which sections 6 extend in the same direction at right angles to the intermediate section 4 and parallel to each other, each terminating in an inwardly turned pintle I paralleling the intermediate section 4. Said pintles I extend toward each other and are designed to be located and extend underneath the outer end portions of the bars 2, which preferably, though not necessarily, will have parts of the bars 2 cut away so that the under sides of the pintles will be substantially fiush with or above the lower edges of the bars. Said pintle portions of the handles are pivotally or rockably secured to the bars by thin metal straps 8 wrapped around the bars and the pintles, the overlapping ends of the straps being connected together by rivets 9 passing therethrough and through the bar, as shown in Fig. '7.

The distance between the sides 6 is greater than the length of the bar 2 so that the handle may be turned to an inner position, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or to an outside position as in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 the handles on a plurality of nested boxes or receptacles are out of the way, and there is no interference with the partial insertion of the lower end portions of said receptacles into the open upper ends of receptacles below. When turned to inner position, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the offset end portions 5 lie against the upper edges of the side bars 3 and the adjacent upper edges of the sides of the receptacle, which support the intermediate elongated section 4 near the upper open end of a receptacle, and the bottom of an upper receptacle may be placed thereon, it being supported adjacent both of its ends and above any contents which may be within the lower box or receptacle. When a receptacle is to be removed, its handles turned to vertical position are readily grasped at the intermediate portions 4 thereof and the weight is transmitted through the bars 2 to the handles without strain upon the retaining straps or bands 8, which need to be of only thin gauge as they are not subjected to the strain of the weight of either the box or its contents. It is to be understood that said bars 2 and also the bars 3 are securely fastened to the sides and ends of the box at portions between the bands or straps 8, and that such bands or straps are not directly connected to the box or receptacle.

The structure described is very economically produced, as what is added to the already built boxes, each of them, consists of the two handles of wire, with each of which two of the connecting bands or straps 8 are used. The connection to the end bars 2 is readily done. Said handles are of a sufficiently sturdy and durable character that they last and maintain effectiveness as long as the receptacles to which attached are in serviceable condition.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope,

I claim:

A structure adapted to be secured to a generally vertical side of an open topped receptacle comprising, a bar adapted for attachment at the outer side of and adjacent the upper edge of the receptacle, a handle of bail form, having an intermediate connecting portion and two spaced legs, one extending at right angles from each end of said intermediate portions, said legs terminating in portions extending inwardly toward each other located underneath the end portions of said bar, means for pivotally connecting the handle at said end portions to the bar to turn about an axis paralleling the length of the ban said handle being of a single length of wire, and said means connecting the inwardly extending portions to the bar comprising a thin band of metal wrapped around each end of the bar and underneath an associated end of the handle, said band having overlapping portions, and securing means extending through said overlapping portions and the bar.

LESTER. D. BEST.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Best etall r June 28,. 1938 

